Report: Komen chairman quits

LaSalle Leffall Jr., 81, a cancer surgeon at Howard University, will continue to serve on the breast cancer charity’s board.

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The charity found itself in a hailstorm of controversy after announcing it would no longer give grants to Planned Parenthood clinics, and then quickly reversed course. Komen initially had said new policies prevented it from distributing grants to any group under investigation, and Planned Parenthood is currently being investigated by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) to determine if the clinics were using any federal dollars to pay for abortion.

The Post reports that Leffall stepped down to focus on his duties at Howard University, but sources told the paper the university had been pushing Leffall to distance himself from the charity.

There have been several high-profile resignations within the foundation since the Planned Parenthood controversy exploded. Komen Executive Vice President Katrina McGhee announced last month she would resign, but would continue to consult for the group, The New York Times reported. Several heads of affiliate chapters of the foundation have also stepped down.

In the months since the Planned Parenthood controversy, Komen has sought to repair its image as a top breast cancer charity.

“We understand that people are unhappy,” spokeswoman Leslie Aun told the Post. “[CEO] Nancy Brinker has said this repeatedly, that we certainly regret the actions we’ve taken, and that we’ve begun the healing process and want people to realize that we’re still the organization helping women in our community deal with breast cancer.”

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 7:42 p.m. on March 22, 2012.